TESTING

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Ban Abortion, Protect Unborn Human Life! Now on Change.org

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Months ago, I started a petition on ThePetitionSite. It's called "Ban All Abortion! Protect All Unborn Human Life!" It's a call to the U.S. President and the U.S. President to work toward an outright ban on all abortions, nationwide. Yesterday, I began this petition also on CHange org. Besides call for the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, this petition calls for measures that would make parenting and adoption more attractive. It also calls for legislating, nationwide, temporary (2 year) foster care as an option for those Facing unplanned pregnancies. AS followers of Jesus, we are to do all within our power to rescue those who being "led to slaughter." The word abortion isn't once mentioned in the Bible, but God makes it clear that He sees us as human from the minute we're conceived. At one time, each and every one of us was a pre-born baby. If we had been aborted, we wouldn't be here. Life is hard and this world is full of trouble, but all people have a right to live. That includes us before we are born. So please look over this petition and its provisions to make abortion alternatives more attractive. As followers of Jesus, we need to speak up for those who have no voice!

Thank you,
Lisa DeSherlia

Moral Rock and Hard Place?

Moral Rock and Hard Place?

If Jesus Ran for Public Office

If Jesus Ran for Public Office

TITLE

TITLE: We, the undersigned, call on the US government to replace Planned Parenthood services by doing the following:

1). Increase Medicaid re-imbursements to obstetrition-gynecologists so they will more be willing to accept Medicaid and serve poor women...

Is There A Christian Vote?

Every election year, we hear about the "evangelical vote." Political commentators talk about the "religious right wing voting bloc."

This election year is no different.

I'm paying more attention to the political landscape than I usually do. This is because others keep TV tuned into political stations. In the Republican Presidential campaign talk, I have been hearing talk about "the Evangelical vote." By this term, political commentators are talking about voters who list themselves as practicing evangelical Christians. These are voters who have a Christian worldview, profess faith in Jesus as Savior, and are prolife. This voting bloc typically oppose abortion, oppose gun control, and oppose "big government." Since strong conservatives embody these values, most "Religious Right" voters vote Republican and conservative. I have long been aware of this, and the only political initiatives and issues that conservative "relgious right" people give priority to, are abortion and gay marriage. Is there a "Chrstian Vote" and do we have to vote a certain way in order to be pleasing to God?

The "Religious Right" and the "Religious Left"

Because of personal experience and research, I know there are "right" and "left" Christian worldviews. And they oppose each other. I have already outlined the values that the "right" focus on. These are opposition to abortion, opposition to gay marriage, and opposition to "big government." "Big government" includes means-tested programs like Food Stamps, Medicaid, universal health care, family and medical leave, early childhood education, and anything that as my mom pusts it, "helps people." On the other hand, the "left" among "progressive liberal Christians reverses their priorities. They often support "marriage equality," are indifferent to abortion or even support it, and support "big government." "Left progressive" Christians tend to support universal health care, Food Stamps, Medicaid, medical and family leave, early childhood education, and all those programs that "help people." "Conservative" Christians see the government as our problem and declare that the government can't save us. They value privatization of government programs. The government exists to protect and defend human life, even if it invades privacy. "Progressive" Christians, on the other hand, believe that the government can help us in many ways and should take care of our needs. They strongly oppose the government "butting in" our private lives and so they either are silent on or support support marriage equality are are usually silent on or support abortion. Notice a pattern? Both sides have Biblical elements; both sides have elements that violate biblical principles.

My Personal Experience

I grew up in a family that was dyed-in-the-wool Democratic. This has not changed over the years. Democrats are seen as good and wanting to help people; Republicans are seen as evil and not caring about the well-being of people. This extended to abortion "rights" when abortion was legalized. It was when I entered adulthood and began taking God seriously, that I found some of these Democratic policies at odds with my beliefs. This was especially in the area of abortion. I was saddened, frustraed and angry that I could no longer support Democratic candiadtes that I would have supported, if they would protect the unborn. I still am not happy that I can't support Democratic leaders because they will not protect the lives of unborn children. I used to "resolve" this by voting for a mixture of Democrats and Republicans. Why did truth and righteousness have to be linked to a party? Was God a Republican? I know that when John and I were attending one local church, one person used this bumper sticker: "Friends don't let friends vote Democratic!" I felt uncomfortable and out of place in my largely conservative church families in most congregations I have been in. THat is because though I identified as prolife I also identifed with Democrats in many ways. However, more recently, when John and I joined a local church that was more "progressive" with a leadership that was openly "left" in beliefs, things shifted. I was uncomfortable but because of my I identified as prolife and this congregation was silent about abortion and openly supportive about "gay marriage" and "gay ordination" to the pulpit. I know that this is not likely to resolve itself and I have become at peace with it.

Politics and Following Jesus

I know many in the Church believe that if we follow Jesus, we should get out of politics. I know of Christ-followers who will not even vote. They state that voting for "the lesser of two evils" is still viting for evil.In many Christian circles, we are advised to vote for the "lesser of two evils" and for the candidate who will do "the least damage to the country." In looking at Jesus' life and teaching, we see that we are told to "Render to Ceasar what is Ceasar's" and "Render to God what is God's." What are we to make of this? In the Epistles, we are told to pray for the government and honor them. Back then, they did not have free elections and we have to draw principles out of the Bible and apply them to voting for candidates especially when we are undecided about whom to vote for. When I find myself voting for candidates I dislike because they protect the unborn (at least), I tell myself that I'm electing a person to public office, not marrying them. As Christ-followers, we are to pray for those we don't support, especially who don't protect the unborn, praying that God will open their eyes and bring them to repentance. No matter who is in power, Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We have to bear this in mind of someone gets in that we don't like or agree with. There are no hard and fast rules about how to relate to the political process, only to pray for those in power, honor them, obey the law but put God first when there is a conflict (and graciously accept the consequences). Politics are not our savior; Jesus is. Politics are not our enemey; the devil is. My Bible tells me the our fight is in the spiritual realm not in the political realm.

God is not a Republican or Democrat; God is God of all!

Two Simple Things Followers of Jesus Can Do For the Autism Community

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Jesus:

This post is about autism. You may have heard of autism. You may even know or have a family member with autism.

What Is Autism?

Autism is considered a complex neuroligical condition. It shows up in many different ways. It shows up in many different degrees. That is why it is called "an autism spectrum." From one end of the spectrum you have the nonverbal person who needs constant help with self-care. On the opposite end of the spectrum you have the person who is socially awkward, but is a stunning success in business and is independent. It is estimated that now, one in eighty-eight people are autistic. I don't know if this counts those who are undiagnosed. Autism is a neurological condition that affects the way a person takes in information. If a person has sensory or anxiety persons, these affect his socialization. To the degree that he lives with one or both, social skills will suffer. Autism affects how you communicate. It ranges from being nonverbal to being verbal but not knowing how to carry a conversation.

What Does This Have To Do With Me?

We are called to love all people.We are called to speak up for those who need our voice. Even now, autism services are often unaffordable to minority families and low-income families. What are autism services? They are diagnostic services to screen people who are suspected to be autistic. They are support services for those who are already diagnosed. Adults have little access to autism services, diagnostic or support services. Autistic adults have a high unemployment rate. It is an estimated 7o percent. The biggest challenge faced by teens with autism is aging out of autism services. What can we do about this? Simply put, join me in supporting a petition calling for the government to fund diagnostic and support autism services. How will the government pay for autism services? you may well wonder. If you read the text to my petition, you will read that funds were set aside to "cambat autism" (a phrase I dislike), but have never been appropriated. The government can get funds out of that. Bluntly, they can increase everyone's taxes or take the funds out of "pork projects." We can make a difference.

When people's needs go unmet, we all pay.

Yours In Christ's Service,

Lisa DeSherlia

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